How to Handle Common Home Emergencies

Whether you’re a new homeowner or a seasoned pro, there’s one thing you can always count on – whatever can go wrong in your home, eventually will. You know, Murphy’s Law.  And while the pure nature of emergencies makes them hard to prevent, you can prepare yourself and prevent a lot of damage with a little know-how and forethought .

Here are 6 common household mishaps and tips on how to handle them.

1. A Burst Pipe -Whether it’s due to freezing temps or gradual wear and tear, few things can cause as much damage in so little time as a burst pipe. If you’re faced with gushing water, quickly close the valve closest to the leaky or broken pipe, then shut off the main water supply valve to the house. Once water has been turned off, place a bucket under the burst pipe, reopen the valve, and slowly drain any remaining water.
2. A Power Outage –Always be prepared for a power outage by keeping flashlights and batteries in stock. In the event of a blackout, carefully disconnect all electronics and appliances to prevent damage from power surges once power is restored. Take extreme caution when using candles to provide light and always make sure all candles are blown out before leaving the house or going to bed.
3. A Gas Leak –If you ever notice the smell of gas in or around your home, or if your carbon monoxide detector goes off, evacuate the house immediately and go to a safe location before calling your local gas company’s help line or 9-1-1. Do not reenter the home until you are told it is safe to do so.
4. Water in Basement –If you see standing water in your basement, do not start cleaning it up or trying to salvage your belongs until the circuit breaker is turned off. If you cannot reach the circuit box, contact your local utility company and ask them to do it for you. Once power has been shut off, enter your basement cautiously while wearing waterproof boots and gloves to protect yourself from harmful elements that could be present in the water.
5. Furnace Malfunction –If your furnace ever suddenly stops working, check to see if the culprit might be a clogged filter or a tripped circuit breaker before contacting your trusted HVAC technician.

Here at Norhio Plumbing, we can help you with three out of five of these home emergencies:  burst or leaky pipes, reconnecting or repairing a gas leak, and helping you solve flooded basement problems.  For more information or to request a free in-home consultation, contact Norhio Plumbing today.